France boss Didier Deschamps admitted his side "failed to capitalise" on late chances as they settled for a goalless draw in Belarus on Tuesday.
The Euro 2016 finalists had a number of opportunities to score in the second half, as Olivier Giroud and Raphael Varane hit the bar, but they could not find a way past goalkeeper Andrey Gorbunov.
And Deschamps rued Les Bleus' slow start after the draw in their opening World Cup qualifier in Borisov.
"We should have done better in the first period," the coach told Canal Plus. "Then, in the second half, we created a lot of chances but came up against a goalkeeper who made some wonderful stops. But that's football.
"In our last game in Italy we had four chances and scored three times. This time we failed to capitalise."
Deschamps did take heart with an improved performance after the break, but he said he wanted more out of his players as the campaign continues.
"Our second period was much better, with more movement and speed," he said. "But we can always do better. It was enough to win tonight. But when we do not put finish our chances, we cannot win.
"We left two points behind and there will be more complicated matches to come."